Apple removes its 256GB Mac Studio M3 Ultra from sale
Apple has removed all RAM upgrade options for the Mac Studio M3 Ultra from sale
Apple has officially removed its high-memory Mac Studio M3 Ultra models from sale, limiting the device to 96GB of unified memory. In March, Apple removed its 512GB configuration from sale, and now the Mac Studio M3 Ultra 256GB option has been removed. Apple has not given a reason for this change, though the global memory shortage appears to be a likely culprit.
This change has been made less than a week after Apple removed its baseline Mac Mini from sale. This model features a 256GB SSD, 16GB of unified memory, and a £599 price tag. Now, Apple’s baseline Mac Mini model has a 512GB SSD and a £799 price tag.
Apple is currently struggling to keep up with demand for its devices. Memory constraints have made it challenging for Apple to create more Mac systems. The removal of Apple’s baseline Mac Mini also implies that the cost of parts has risen significantly, making lower-margin products less profitable.
Is a new Mac Studio in the works?
There is speculation that Apple is saving memory for the launch of its next-generation Mac Studio. If this is the case, it would make sense for Apple to deprioritise models like the Mac Studio M3 Ultra 256GB. Regardless, it remains to be seen if Apple’s hypothetical Apple Studio M5 Ultra will even launch with such high-end memory configurations. After all, if memory is limited, why use so much of it on a single device?
Apple’s large unified memory pools have made Apple’s Mac Studio devices popular for LLMs. The same is true for AMD’s Strix Halo systems. Perhaps Apple has decided to limit its memory options to more fairly allocate its limited memory supply. Alternatively, it may have become too challenging for Apple to acquire high-capacity DRAM modules. After all, those modules could be used in AI servers, making them incredibly valuable in today’s market.
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